The most wonderful time of the year!! Well, almost. It will be so exciting to get these little babies outside!
We're officially under a month away from the last-frost date. This means it's time to start seeds inside! Doing this gives you a much better chance of thriving in the ground.
When starting plants inside, it's important to simulate outdoor growing conditions, and Madeline is putting months of winter research to great use. Grow lights provide a light spectrum similar to the sun, which is a catalyst for the photosynthesis that all things green require. Seeding trays hold dirt, with a second tray underneath that holds water, which is absorbed through the bottom (quite aptly termed bottom-watering.) Keeping the soil moist--but not soggy--is crucial for delicate seedlings that could dry out quite quickly. We also keep a rotating fan near the seedlings, which imitates wind and helps the seedlings grow stronger. All of these factors combined add up to a much higher success rate once the plants go into the ground.
Up next: we are preparing to divide and start our dahlia tubers. We transferred them from dry storage into moist peat moss, and check daily for signs of sprouting. Once we see "eyes" on the tubers (just like when you leave potatoes for too long), they're ready to be cut apart and started in their own pots.
Orders from Bluestone Perennials are placed, and should be arriving mid-April. It's great for small-scale farmers to not have to store too many plants inside, and Bluestone ships when it's safe to keep them outdoors!
After a long and quiet winter, we're so excited to start growing!